Improvement in friction-matches



UNITED STATES FFICE PATENT WM. K. ASHARD, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN FRICTION-MATCHES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM K. ASHARD, of the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented a new and Improved Article of Friction-Matchesand I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exactdescription.

The nature of my invention consistsin'making matches which are capableof resisting the action of damp, and are indestructible by means ofimmersion in water, and whichignite and burn without the use or agencyof sulphur; and not only do they resist simple dampness and wet, butremain for a long time immersed in water without destroying theirquality of ignition and combustion, and are therefore well adapted fortransportation by sea, and for use in humid climates and situations. Theab sence of sulphur from my matches is conceived to be an importantdesideratum, inasmuch as the fumes of that article while in'combustionare well known to be disagreeable and deleterious, and particularlyinjurious to persons of weak lungs and delicate constitutions.

To enable others skilled in-the art to make and use my invention, I-will proceed to de scribe the character and ture and compositioningredient as m process of manufacv The splint or stick I saturate inmelted beeswax or other material erties and capable of stead of thesticks, or paper, and to the solution of beeswax or other material maybe'added such perfuming ay be desired, so that in burning the match mayexhalean agreeable fragrance. I then make a compound of the followingingredients, in these, or nearly these, proportions-that is to say, onepart phosphorus, two parts chlorate-of potassa, five parts ofsul'phurate ot'antimony, and two parts of gum-shellac or other resinousgum dissolved in alcohol. Into this preparation or mixtureI dip one endof the stick,'cl0tl|, or paper saturated and perfumed, as aforesaid, andafter dry ing the article is fit for use.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure-by Letters Patent,is-

The above-described process of making fricpossessing similarpropproducing flame; or, in-

tion-matches without the use of sulphur.

New York, June 12, 1843.

WILLIAM R. ASHARD'. Witnesses:

GEO. BOWEN, J OHN T. DOYLE- I can'use strips of cloth"

